Authors Gaile Parkin and Mary Pearson focus their novels, Baking Cakes in Kigali and The Adoration of Jenna Fox, on the meaning of family. In both novels, love and family are key elements: in Baking Cakes in Kigali, the main character, Angel, loses both his daughter and son, while those around Angel step up and protect their families; in The Worship of Jenna Fox, Jenna's family members show their love for Jenna by breaking the law to save her life. Both novels demonstrate that family is important to all people; family can support and protect a person or even give someone the courage to carry on after their family is gone. In Baking Cakes in Kigali, Angel loses his daughter, Vinas, and the loss of his daughter leaves an empty void in his heart; However, it is this hole in Angel's heart that allows Angel to make room for someone else in his life, but to include someone new in his life, Angel must first recognize the real reason behind his daughter's death so that he can accept it. and move forward. Angel was lying to herself about her daughter's death: [Her] daughter wanted to die. She took those pills to commit suicide herself. (Perkin 247) Although losing her only daughter is a challenge for Angel, she ultimately feels relief when she comes to terms with reality and exposes the truth about Vinas' death, and by finally admitting the reality of her daughter's death, Angel is able to have a clearer mind and progress in life and helps Leocadie, who does not have a mother to be with her for her wedding. Embracing the truth about Vinas' death, Angel finds the courage to say, "Leocadie, it is not true that you have no family, for I will be your mother for this marriage" (148). Thinking about Vinas gives Angel enough… middle of paper… Italian villa and wine” (189) to help his only daughter, Claire, and therefore Jenna. Both Lily and Claire are admirable mothers, who would run to the ends of the earth for their daughters; these two mothers illustrate how deeply a mother can love her daughter and how a mother does everything in her power to protect her children. Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Perkin and The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson demonstrate how family can protect, support, and encourage an individual. Family is a crucial aspect of a person's life and a loving sibling, mother or father can have a great impact on a person's life. A family can encourage someone to help others or even save another's life. It is evident, therefore, that the family is a crucial element for human life; the world would be miserable if there were no loving families who care for each other and support each other.